Loose leaf binder



Sept. 29, 1936. A, LOT-[ER LOOSE LEAF BINDER I 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledNov. 6, 1933 Sept. 29, 193.6. A. G. LoTTER LOOSE LEAF BINDER 5Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. 6, 1933 Arm/m '5. LU/ZEF Sept. 29, A G LOT-FER2,055,905

LOOSE LEAF BINDER Filed Nov. 6, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.rlfrl/lrIIII!!!llllfrflllllzllllrllfd Sept. 29, 1936.. A. G. LOTTERLOOSE LEAF BIN Filed Nov. 6, 1955 Sept. 29, 1936. A. G. LOTTER I2,055,905

LOOSE LEAF BINDER- Filed Nov. 6, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 flaw/7 5 10/752why/M Patented Sept. 29, 1936 PATENT OFFICE LOOSE LEAF BINDER Adolph G.Letter, Milwaukee,

Stationers Loose Leaf Wis assignor to Company, Milwaukee.

Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin 7 Application November 6, 1933, SerialNo. 696.823

19 Claims. This invention relates to loose leaf binders and refers moreparticularly to binders of the split ring type. v p

As is well known, it has always been difilcult in ring binders, toprevent tearing the leaves as a result of the binding eifect between therings and the leaves during closing of the binder. Many differentdevices have been proposed to eliminate this binding effect and therebyfacilitate closing of the binder, but not any of the schemes heretoforeproposed attained the desired smoothness of operation.

In nearly all instances, a sheet follower sometimes termed a leafflipper has been employed. These followers generally consisted of stifiplatelike members provided with apertures to receive the rings of thebinder, and extended a few" inches toward the free ends of the covers toprovide rigid supports for the leaves during closing of the binder.

To these followers or leaf flippers, devices were added to improve thefunctioning thereof, but as hereinbefore noted, these past expedientshave all fallen short of attaining the desired degree of smoothness ofoperation and assurance against tearing the leaves.

With these objections to existing devices of the character described inmind, this invention has as an object to provide a new and improved typeof follower which is so constructed and associated with the binder as toproduce a new motion throughout the entire range of closing movement ofthe binder, by which binding between the leaves and the rings isentirely eliminated.

A further object of this invention is to provide a follower device whichis readily adaptable to difi'erent types of ring binders and which maybe supplied as a separate unit to be installed in binders already inuse.

More specifically, it is an object of this invention to provide afollower device for ring binders in which the two sheet supportingelements are hingedly connected and constrained to swing about an axisnear the center of the rings.

With the above and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction,combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafterdescribed.- and more particularly defined by the appended claims, itbeing understood that such changes in the precise embodiment' of theherein-disclosed invention may be made as come within the scope of theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated two complete examplesof the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to thebest modes I have so far devised for the practical application of theprinciples thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view or a ring type 6 loose leaf binderillustrating the application of this invention thereto;

' Figure 2 is an end view with parts broken away and in section of thebinder and follower shown in Figure 1, in closed position;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the supports for thehinge connection between the follower elements;

Figure 4 is a perspective view similar to Figure 1 illustrating amodified embodiment of this invention appliedto another type of ringbinder;

Figure 5 is an end view of the binder and follower shown in Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a detail perspective view showing part of the back of thebinder illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, and showing the position of thehinge support thereon;-

Figure '7 is a top plan view showing one end of a visible record looseleaf binder in open position equipped with the follower device of thisinvention;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure '2' but illustrating the binder inits open position with its ring sections staggered;

Figure 9 is an end view of the visible record binder shown in Figures 7and 8 in closed position; a

Figure 10 is a detail section view taken through Figure 8 on the planeof the line. Ill-Ill;

Figure 11 is a perspective view of a small capacity binder withamodified form of the invention applied thereto; and

Figure 12 is an end view of the binder shown in Figure 11 inclosedposition. 40

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in whichlike numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, thenumeral 5 designates generally the back of a loose leaf ring binderwhich may be built up of superimposed elements, the detailedconstruction of which forms no part of this invention. Hingedlyconnected to the opposite sides of the back 5 are covers 6.

In the particular binder illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the back 5mounts two ring carrying plates 1, which are guided for sidewise motiontoward and away from each other, efl'ected by shifting an actuator bar 8longitudinally, one way or the other. The transversely shiftable platesI carry complementary impaling prongs, which, together form retainingrings 9 to removably hold a plurality of leaves l0 indicated inconstruction lines in Figure 2.

The followers, which form the subject matter of this invention, in theembodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, consist of two substantiallyflat plates ll having right angularly disposed flanges l2 at theiradjacent inner edges. The flanges l2 may be formed as integral parts ofthe plates l I or may be separate elements riveted or otherwise securedthereto. The upper free edges of the flanges l2 have complementarycurled loops B to receive a hinge pin l4. The two followers are thushingedly connected.

To accommodate the rings 9, the plate members II have elongatedapertures l2, and to provide a smooth sliding engagement between theouter free edges of the plate members and the covers, the plate membersare formed with rounded ribs IS. The ribs I5 also stiffen theplatemembers as will be readily apparent.

It is observed from Figure 1 that when the binder is open, the axis ofthe hinge connection between the two followers is near the center of therings, and to maintain the same centrally located throughout the closingmovement of the binder and also when the same is closed, and to hold thefollowers oif the rings, supports I6 are provided for the hingeconnection. These supports, as illustrated in Figure 3, may beconveniently formed by a single strip of bendable metal bent tosubstantially inverted T shape, with oppositely extending feet l'Ito'rest on the top of the back, and an upstanding central stem l8 havingan elongated loop I9 at its upper end. The looped upper end i9 isreceived in openings 20 cut in the upstanding flanges i2 of bothfollowers, and the hinge pin #4 passes through the loop.

The loop is elongated as illustrated to permit the hinge pin to floatvertically. This vertically floating support or anchor for the hinge pinis especially important in large capacity binders as it precludesbinding and bulging of the leaves when the binder is completely closed.

In the modification illustrated in Figures 4, 5 and 6, the binder aswell as the follower is of slightly different construction. The binderin this instance is of the snap ring type in which the ring sections arespring held in either closed or open position by means (not shown)mounted within the back member 22. The covers 6 are connected to theback member through an auxiliary back member 23, and handles 24 areprovided to facilitate opening the ring sections.

The followers, as in the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1 and 2,consist of'flat plate members equipped with the ribs at the outer edgesthereof to aiford a smooth sliding engagement with the covers, andopenings for the rings. Short upstanding right angular flanges 25 areformed at their inner edges, and fixed to the short 'upstanding flangesare angularly bent flanges 26, the outer free edges of which arehingedly connected as at 21.

As in the embodiment hereinbefore described, supports are provided tohold the hinge connection near the center of the rings, and as before,these supports are conveniently formed from a length of bendable metalbent to substantially inverted T shape. The upper looped ends of thesupports which receive the hinge pin, project through openings 28 in theflanges 26. The lower portions l1 instead of merely resting on the topof the back, have their outer ends bent over the opposite sides of theback member as at 29 so that the supports are rigidly attached to theback member and held against sidewise shifting with respect thereto.

The attachment of the supports to the back member, however, does notinterfere with the slightly floating mounting for the followers and doesnot introduce any possibility of binding.

In Figures 7 to 10 inclusive, the application of this invention to avisible record binder is illustrated. The binder shown in these views isof that type in which the rings are composed of two series ofcomplementary impaling prongs 30 and 3|. The prongs 30 are carried by aplate 32 and the prongs 3| are mountedon a plate 33. These two prongcarrying plates are mounted for simultaneous sidewise movement towardand from each other on the back 34 of the binder and are adapted to belocked against separation by a longitudinally shiftable locking bar 35.Upon release effected by shifting the bar 35, the prong carrying platesmay be shifted toward and from each other, and to facilitate suchsidewise shifting, handles 36 are provided.

The plate 33, which carries the series of prongs 3i, besides beingshiftable laterally is also shiftable longitudinally half the distancebetween the prongs to stagger the prongs 3i with respect to the prongs3!). The manner in which the plates 32 and 33 which carry the prongs aremounted on the back forms no part of this invention and has, therefore,not been shown in detail.

It is noted, however, that the plates 32 and 33 have opposed tongues 37at their adjacent edge portions adapted to overlie the longitudinallyshiftable locking bar 35 when the binder is in closed position.

The followers in this embodiment of the invention are in many respectssimilar to those illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, differing therefromprincipally in the fact that the hinge connection accommodates relativeendwise shifting between the two followers, this being accomplished byleaving spaces 38 between the loops of the hinge connection.

The followers are also notched to receive the tongues 31 when the prongcarrying plates are separated, and through the engagement of the tonguesin the notches, the followers are held against endwise shifting withrespect to their respective prong carrying plates. Hence, uponlongitudinal shifting of the prong carrying plate 33, its follower movesin unison therewith.

The hinge connection 21 in this instance is yieldably held in itsuppermost position and to this end, the hinge pin passes throughelongated vertical slots 39 in upstanding posts ll) fixed to the lockingbar 35. Compression springs M are confined between the hinge pin andbarriers in the bottom of the posts conveniently provided by cross pins42. The flanges 26 of the followers are cut away sufliciently as at 43to accommodate the movement of the posts 40 with the locking bar.

Another very simple embodiment of the inven-- tion is illustrated inFigures 11 and 12. This form of the invention is particularly applicableto small capacity binders. The major distinction over the othermodifications resides in the manner in which the hinge axis is supportedfrom the back of the binder during operation.

The two followers H are connected by two small hinges 45 having rightangular flanges 46 to which the followers are riveted as at 41.Openmembers adjacent their inner edges, andmeans ings II in thefollowers receive the impaling prongs Iof the binder.

Formed on the inner edge of each follower are extensions 4! and recessesI0, the extensions ll of one follower being opposite the recesses of theother follower. The extensions are of such length that during openingand closing of the binder, they ride on the inner curved face ll of theback of the binder and thus support the .hinge axis at a point near thecommon center of the rings. The support for the hinge axis is providedas an integral part of the followers themselves, thus obvisting thenecessity for additional supporting units.

As will be readily apparent, when the binder is fully open, the factthat the extensions on the followers enter recesses in the oppositefollower, permits the followers to lie flat.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompamringdrawings,it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, thatthis invention affords novel and improved followers for ring type looseleaf binders, and that by reason of the fact that the two followers arehingedly connected and that their hinge connection is maintainedsomewhere near the center of the rings or at least above the back, theportions of the followers adjacent the rings are lifted a substantialdistance during the initial closing movement of the covers.

This substantial upward lifting movement of the followers efl'ectuallyprevents binding of the leaves on the rings, and as the followers at notime ride on the rings, the optimum of smooth action is realized.

It is also apparent that the followers may be made as separate articlesof manufacture to be supplied in sets readily applicable to bindersalready in use, especially that type illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, and11 and 12.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a loose leaf binder including covers and rings to hold a pluralityof leaves, followers disposed between the covers and the outermostleaves and adapted to support the leaves as the binder is closed, andmeans to hingedly connect the followers with each other to constrain thesame to a predetermined motion.

2. In a loose leaf binderincluding rings to retain a plurality of leavesand covers associated with the rings, followers connected with the rings7 and disposed between the covers and the outermost leaves, and commonmeans to connect the inner portions of the followers and constrain theirmotion during opening and closing of the binder to a swinging'movementabout an axis lying near the center of the rings so that the followersat their portions adjacent the rings are lifted a substantial distancefrom the covers to smoothly carry the leaves about the rings duringclosing of the binder.

3. In combination with a loose leaf binder having covers and rings toretain a plurality of leaves, followers between the covers and theoutermost leaves to carry the leaves around the rings and facilitateclosing of the binder, said followers comprising substantially flat bodyportions with upstanding flanges at their inner edges, and means tohingedly connect the upstanding flanges.

4. As an article of manufacture, a set of followers for loose leafbinders of the ring type comprising, a pair of substantially flat platemembers, flanges extending upwardly from the plate to hingedly connectsaid flanges.

5. As an article of manufacture, a set of followers-for loose leafbinders of the ring type comprising, a pair of substantially flatmembers having apertures in their adjacent portions to receive the ringsof a binder, upstanding walls at the adjacent portions of said members,and means hingedly connecting the upstanding walls of the two flatmembers.

6. In combination with a loose leaf binder of the ring typ a pair offollowers comprising twosubstantially' flat members having angularlydisposed flanges at their adjacent edges, loops at the outer edges ofsaid flanges, and a hinge pin extending through said loops to provide-ahinged connection between said substantially flat members, and said flatmembers having'apertures to receive the rings of the binder.

7. In combination with a visible record loose leaf binder having sheetretaining rings composed of two series of complementary impaling prongsmounted for movement apart and one of said series being shiftable tostagger the prongs, followers to facilitate closing of the binder, saidfollowers having apertures to receive the prongs, and means to hingedlyconnect the adjacent por-' tions of the followers, said hingedconnection permitting relative endwise shifting of .said followers so asto accommodate the shifting of said one series of prongs.

8. In a loose leaf binder including a back, covers hingedly connectedwith the back and rings carried by the back to retain a plurality ofleaves, followers disposed between the covers and the outermost leaves,a hinged connection between the followers, and means to hold the hingedconnection in a position with the axis thereof near the center of therings said means permitting a limited degree of movement of the hingedconnection toward and away from the back during opening and closing ofthe binder.

said angle plates, and a substantially floating support to hold thehinge connection near the common center of the rings, said angle platesbeing perforated to accommodate the rings, whereby the remaining flangesof the angle plates may be disposed between the covers and the outermostleaves to support the leaves and facilitate closing of the binder.

l0. Asan article of manufacture, a set of followers for loose leafbinders of the ring type comprising, a pair of substantially flat platemembers, means hingedly connecting the plate members, and means carriedby the plate members and engageable with a binder part to support theplate members during opening and closing of the binder and maintain thehinge axis near the the common center of the rings.

11. As an articlevof manufacture, a set of followers for loose leafbinders of the ring type com.- prising, a pair of substantially flatmembers having apertures in their adjacent portions to receive the ringsof a binder, means to hingedlyconnect the adjacent portions of the flatmembers, said means positioning the hinge axis inwardly of the planes ofthe two flat members so that when the binder is open and the flatmembers lie in substantially a common plane, the hinge axis is bers andengageable with a binder part to support the flat members during openingand closing of the binder and hold the hinge axis near said commoncenter of the rings.

12. As an article of manufacture, a set of followers for loose leafbinders of the ring type comprising, a pair of substantially flatmembers hav-- 'binder part during opening and closing of the binder tomaintain the hinge axis substantially near the common center of thebinder rings.

13. As an article of manufacture, a set of followers for loose leafbinders of the ring type comprising, a pair of substantially flatmembers having apertures in their adjacent portions to receive the ringsof a binder, means to hingedly connect the adjacent portions of the flatmembers, said means positioning the hinge axis inwardly of the planes ofthe two flat members so that when the binder is open and the flatmembers lie in substantially a common plane, the hinge axis is locatednear the common center of the rings of the binder, and extensions on theadjacent portions of the flat members engageable with a binder partduring opening and closing of the binder to maintain the hinge axissubstantially near the common center of thebinder rings. each of saidflat members having a recess opposite an extension on the other flatmember to receive such extension when the binder is open and the flatmembers lie in substantially the same plane. 1 14. In combination with aloose leaf binder having covers connected by a backand rings to. retaina plurality of leaves, followers between the covers and the outermostleaves, means to hingedly connect the followers, and extensions on thefollowers adapted to ride on the back of the binder during opening andclosing of the binder to support the followers, and maintain the hingeaxis spaced from the back of the binder.

15. The combination with a loose leaf ring binder adapted to accommodatea sheaf of loose leaf sheets, of a pair of rigid strips each of whichcomprises an inner arm and an outer arm perpendicular thereto, saidstrips being hinged together at the ends of the inner arms, the hingebeing substantially aligned with the axis of the binder rings, and theouter arms overlying the binder covers, respectively, and means formaintaining said hinge substantially in said alignment with. the ringaxis when the covers are brought into parallelism to close the binder,whereby when the binder-is-closed the inner arms will engage the rearedge of said sheaf and brlng'the sheets into parallel relationship.

16. The combination with a loose leaf ring binder adapted to accommodatea sheaf of loose comprises an innerarm and an outer arm perpendicularthereto. said strips being hinged together at the ends of the innerarms, the hinge being substantially aligned with the axis of the binderrings, and the outer arms overlying the binder covers, respectively, andmeans carried by said strips for maintaining said hinge substantially insaid alignment with the ring axis when the covers are brought intoparallelism to close the binder. said means bracing against a portion ofthe binder during the closing operation, whereby when the binderisclosed the inner arms will engage the rear edge of said sheafand bringthe sheets into parallel relationship.

17. The combination with a loose leaf ring binder adapted to accommodatea sheaf of loose leaf sheets, of a pair of rigid strips each of whichcomprises an inner arm and an outer arm perpendicular thereto, saidstrips being hinged together at the ends of the inner arms, the hingebeing substantially aligned with the axis of the binder rings, and theouter arms overlying the 'leai sheets, of a pair of rigid strlpseach ofwhich comprises an inner arm and an outer arm perpendicular thereto,said strips being hinged together at the ends of the inner-arms, thehinge being substantially aligned with the axis of the binder rings,andthe outer arms overlying the binder covers, respectively, each ofsaid strips having a longitudinal slot permitting application of thedevice to thebinder in interengagement with one of the rings, and meansfor maintaining said hinge substantially in said alignment with the ringaxis when the covers are brought into parallelism to close the binder,whereby when the binder is closed the inner arms will engage the rear.edge of said sheaf and bring the sheets into parallel relationship.

19. In a loose leaf binder including a back, covers hinged to-the backand rings to hold a. plurality of leaves, followers disposed between thecovers and the outermost leaves, said followers having upstanding partsat their inner edges, means for hingedly connecting the outer edges ofthe upstanding parts, said upstanding parts pro- -jecting up from theinner surfaces of the followers a distance such that when the binder isopen and the followers are in substantially horizontal alignment thehinge axis is located a substantial distance up from the back of thebinder and close to the center of the rings, and means tosupport thehinge axis at a point near the ADOLPH G. LO'ITER.

center of the rings during closure of the binder. leaf sheets, of a pairof rigid strips each ofwhichr

